Force-indicating toothbrush using magnetic latching

Abstract

A force indicating toothbrush which uses magnetic latching to hold a movable brush member against a hollow handle. When held by the hollow handle, the bristles of the brush member are pressed against the user's teeth and gums until a predetermined force is reached. The predetermined force causes unlatching of the magnetic latch and movement of the brush member relative to the hollow handle, thereby indicative the user that too much pressure has been exerted against the teeth and gums.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A force-indicating toothbrush comprising: a) a hollow handle having a latching end and a connecting end;   b) a brush member having a brush head, a connecting point, and a magnetic surface, said connecting point and magnetic surface being disposed at spaced locations on said brush member said brush member arranged relative to said hollow handle such that said connecting end of said hollow handle is connected to said connecting point of said brush member to enable said brush member to move relative to said hollow handle about said connecting end, and said latching end of said hollow handle is positioned adjacent to said magnetic surface of said brush member; and   c) a magnet connected to said latching end of said hollow handle opposite said magnetic surface of said brush member such that when said magnet contacts said magnetic surface over a contact area, a magnetic force latches said brush member to said hollow handle until a predetermined force is applied to said brush head to cause said magnet to separate from said magnetic surface, thereby unlatching said brush member from said hollow handle to indicate that said predetermined force has been exceeded.   
     
     
       2. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said connecting point is located between said brush head and said magnetic surface. 
     
     
       3. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said magnetic surface is located between said brush head and said connecting point. 
     
     
       4. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said connecting point comprises a friction joint enabling said brush member to pivot relative to said hollow handle. 
     
     
       5. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said connecting point comprises a resilient portion of said hollow handle enabling said brush member to bend relative to said hollow handle. 
     
     
       6. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said connecting point comprises a resilient portion of said brush member enabling said brush member to bend relative to said hollow handle. 
     
     
       7. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 wherein said magnetic surface is also a magnet. 
     
     
       8. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising an adjustable portion of said latching end of said hollow handle to which said magnet is connected, said adjustable portion being movable relative to said hollow handle such that said contact area between said magnetic surface and said magnet may be varied in order to change said magnetic force. 
     
     
       9. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising a secondary means for engaging said brush member to said hollow handle such that said brush member cannot move relative to said hollow handle without manually disengaging said secondary means. 
     
     
       10. A force-indicating toothbrush comprising: a) a hollow handle having a latching end and a connecting end;   b) a brush member having a brush head, a connecting point and a magnet attached thereto said connecting point and magnet being disposed at spaced locations on said brush member said brush member arranged relative to said hollow handle such that said connecting end of said hollow handle connects to said connecting point of said brush member to enable said brush member to move relative to said hollow handle about said connecting end, and said latching end of said hollow handle is positioned adjacent to said magnet on said brush member; and   c) a magnetic surface on said latching end of said hollow handle opposite said magnet on said brush member such that when said magnet contacts said magnetic surface over a contact area, a magnetic force latches said brush member to said hollow handle until a predetermined force is applied to said brush head to cause said magnet to separate from said magnetic surface, thereby unlatching said brush member from said hollow handle to indicate that said predetermined force has been exceeded.   
     
     
       11. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 wherein said connecting point is located between said brush head and said magnet. 
     
     
       12. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 wherein said magnet is located between said brush head and said connecting point. 
     
     
       13. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 wherein said connecting point comprises a friction joint enabling said brush member to pivot relative to said hollow handle. 
     
     
       14. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 wherein said connecting point comprises a resilient portion of said hollow handle enabling said brush member to bend relative to said hollow handle. 
     
     
       15. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 wherein said connecting point comprises a resilient portion of said brush member enabling said brush member to bend relative to said hollow handle. 
     
     
       16. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 wherein said magnetic surface is also a magnet. 
     
     
       17. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 further comprising an adjustable portion of said latching end of said hollow handle at said magnetic surface, said adjustable portion being movable relative to said hollow handle such that said contact area between said magnetic surface and said magnet may be varied in order to change said magnetic force. 
     
     
       18. The force-indicating toothbrush of claim 10 further comprising a secondary means for engaging said brush member to said hollow handle such that said brush member cannot move relative to said hollow handle without manually disengaging said secondary means.